The site of a Hindu temple and a shrine, Batu Caves attracts thousands of tourists and worshipers annually from all over the globe. Its main attraction is the golden statue of a Hindu God at the entrance, as well as the chance to view the stunning skyline of the city center after a steep 272 steps climb up the side of the limestone hill

There are a labyrinth of spooky caves within, featuring temples, Hindu shrines, and paintings of Hindu Gods. It’s not my favorite attraction to be honest, but if you’ve got time, you should def go and check it out

How to get here

Go to KL Sentral and search for the KTM Komuter Line. The ticket booth should be just to the right of the entrance. Tell the ticket operator that you want to go to Batu Caves, and get a roundtrip ticket (RM 2 one-way)

Once you have your ticket, check the tv to see which platform you should head to, and what time the next train will depart. Train leaves every half an hour, so if you just missed it, don’t fret – another one will be there soon. Ask the guards how to get to the right platforms and you’re on your way!

Batu Caves is the 8^th station from KL Sentral, so just pay attention to make sure you don’t miss your stop (they have light boards showing you which station is next so it’s pretty impossible to miss)

Once you arrive at the Batu Caves station, exit and head right. If you see a HUGE gold status in the distance – that means you’re headed in the right direction

What to expect

1. You’ll be greeted at the entrance by huge and colorful Hindu gods

2. Be prepared to be awestruck by Lord Murugan

Who’s that? Why, just the friendly gold status everyone takes a photo of when they go to Batu Caves! Note that this dude is THE tallest Lord Murugan statue in the world, and cost approximately RM 24mn. Phew, that’s a lot of money… To achieve its gold color, they had to bring in 300 liters of gold paint from Thailand, how very fancy!

3. Dress code checkpoint alert

As Batu Caves is a shrine, visitors should observe the proper dress code, meaning shorts and skirts should end below the knee. Warning: Visitors who do not comply can be turned away

4. Ready yourself for a strenuous upward climb – 272 steps to be exact!

To get to the Temple Cave, you’ll have to huff and puff your way up the 272 steps, and wage war against a battalion of incessant, greedy monkeys!

Tips:

• Go to the bathroom before attempting the climb, there are no bathrooms at the top
• Bring water, you’ll need it
• Don’t bring out food while you’re climbing, it’ll attract the monkeys and they can be quite vicious
• Go early or late, that way you won’t have the sun beating down your back as you climb. Opening hours are from 7 AM to 8 PM (daily)

 

 

5. Get the chance to see the Kuala Lumpur skyline on a clear day

Unfortunately, we weren’t lucky enough to see the iconic Petronas Tower and KL Menara Tower on the day we were there. But we wish you luck!

6. Welcome to the Temple Cave and the Valli Devenai Temple

Lots of Hindu shrines and ceremonies taking place while we were there. At the same, there’s a very high ceiling with a hole through which you can see the clear blue sky

 

 

7. Make your way to the Dark Cave (entrance is around the 200^th step)

Access to the Dark Cave and the fascinating cave ecosystem is only allowed via guided tours. These tours last for ~45 mins, but do check the availability of the tours as they don’t run everyday. As I’m not particularly fond of creepy crawlies, my friend and I opted to skip this tour

8. Head to Cave Villa, an art gallery and museum caves depicting scenes from Hindu tradition and statues of Hindu deities

My friend and I entered because I was keen to learn more about Hinduism. Inside are two big cave galleries that depict the many Hindu gods and goddesses with English storylines provided. Note that entrance here is NOT free, and will cost foreigners RM 15 / Malaysian residents RM 7

 

 

And that’s a wrap! Hope you enjoy the beautiful Batu Caves – and more broadly, the beautiful Malaysia. If you’re interested, below is a full list of Malaysia blogs I have available:

• What to do when in Kuala Lumpur, including day trips
• Eating my way through Kuala Lumpur – my top picks!
• Day trip from KL: Putrajay’s architectural wonders
• Day trip from KL: What to expect from Batu Caves
• Day trip from KL: Discovering the hidden treasures of Melaka
• A travel and food guide to Malaysia’s hidden jewel: Penang